2019 Hyundai Nexo

2019 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive

Safety

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Nexo are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Smart ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Nexo has standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The ForTwo Electric Drive offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature that would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

The Nexo’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Nexo has a standard Limited to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The ForTwo Electric Drive only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The Nexo’s blind spot warning system uses digital cameras monitored by computer to alert the driver to moving objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. The ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing safer, the Nexo’s cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Nexo’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The Nexo has standard Blue Link, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

The Hyundai Nexo weighs 1607 to 1753 pounds more than the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

Warranty

The Nexo comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The ForTwo Electric Drive’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year and 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Nexo 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Smart covers the ForTwo Electric Drive. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the ForTwo Electric Drive ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Nexo’s corrosion warranty is 3 years and unlimited miles longer than the ForTwo Electric Drive’s (7/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

There are over 32 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Smart dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Nexo’s warranty.

Engine

Fuel Economy and Range

The Nexo’s maximum driving range is 380 miles, over six times as far as the ForTwo Electric Drive’s 58 mile range. After it exhausts its hydrogen, the Nexo can then refuel in minutes, while the ForTwo Electric Drive has to recharge for 3 hours. A full recharge at a conventional charging station can take up to 16 hours and 30 minutes.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Nexo’s brake rotors are larger than those on the ForTwo Electric Drive:

Nexo

ForTwo

Front Rotors

12.6 inches

10.2 inches

Rear Rotors

11.9 inches

9” drums

The Hyundai Nexo has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the ForTwo Electric Drive. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The Nexo has a standard brake assist system to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Nexo has larger standard tires than the ForTwo Electric Drive (225/60R17 vs. 165/65R15). The Nexo Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the ForTwo Electric Drive (245/45R19 vs. 185/50R16).

The Nexo’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the ForTwo Electric Drive’s standard 65 series front tires. The Nexo Limited’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the ForTwo Electric Drive’s optional 50 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Nexo has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the ForTwo Electric Drive. The Nexo Limited’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 16-inch wheels optional on the ForTwo Electric Drive.

The Hyundai Nexo’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Smart ForTwo Electric Drive only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Hyundai Nexo has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Smart ForTwo Electric Drive has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Nexo has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Nexo flat and controlled during cornering. The ForTwo Electric Drive’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Nexo’s wheelbase is 36.1 inches longer than on the ForTwo Electric Drive (109.8 inches vs. 73.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Nexo is 6.1 inches wider in the front and 7.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the ForTwo Electric Drive.

Passenger Space

The Nexo has standard seating for 5 passengers; the ForTwo Electric Drive can only carry 2.

Cargo Capacity

The Nexo has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the ForTwo Electric Drive Coupe (29.6 vs. 9.2 cubic feet).

The Nexo’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The ForTwo Electric Drive’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, just waiting momentarily behind the back bumper can open the Nexo Limited’s power liftgate, leaving your hands completely free. The Nexo’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening tailgate.

Ergonomics

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Nexo has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals. The ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer a telescoping steering wheel.

The Nexo’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them. Smart does not offer a locking feature on the ForTwo Electric Drive’s standard power windows.

The Proximity Key standard on the Nexo allows you to unlock the driver’s door, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Smart ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

The Nexo has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The ForTwo Electric Drive only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Nexo detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Nexo has standard extendable sun visors. The ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Nexo’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Smart charges extra for heated mirrors on the ForTwo Electric Drive.

The Nexo’s standard rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Nexo Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in summer. The ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Nexo’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Nexo has a standard Smart Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The Nexo has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Nexo Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The ForTwo Electric Drive doesn’t offer an automated parking system.